Method for refining oils



Patented Jan'. s, 1924.

WILLIAM J. REILLY, or DENVER, ooLonAno.

lltlll'llliIODl FOR REFINING OILS.

Original application'led August 1, 1921, Serial No. 488,760. Divided andthis applieation filed April 6,

- 1922. serial 110.549,988. f

To all whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. REILLY, citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the city and county of Denver and State ofColorado, have, invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methodsfor Refining Oils; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the a'rt to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and .to the charactersof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to the art of retiningpetroleum and other oils,and its principal object is to provide a process and an apparatus bywhich petroleum and other oils of high specific gravity may be convertedinto oils of lower specific gravity. At present, and most likely tocontinue into the future," there 1 is a preponderance of the heavygravity oils and lsuch oils are of much less commercial val-ue than thelight oils.

Various methods for treating these heavy oils, so as to change theirphysical and chemical characteristics and render them of y more economicvalue, have been used in the lytic agents such-as iron,

past and are used today. The principal methods employed are,-First:distillation at atmospheric pressure, which means the light oils areremoved. tion under increased pressure and temperature, which is knownin the artas cracking. By the. second'process a marked increase in theyieldot1 the lighter hydrocarbonoils of the gasoline serles is obtained.Investigatorshave devised many methods and types of apparatus fordistilling and cracking hydrocarbon oil. They have sought to accomplishthis heat, with or without pressure, in some casesusing 'variouscatanickel, alumina, manganese oxide, etc. Some of these methods areused today with more or less success.

I will now proceed to describe my 'invention 'and in 'order to do thisin a clear and omprehensive manner I shall refer to the accompanyingdrawings in which- Y Fig. l shows my apparatus in side elevation andpartly broken away so as to disclose the interior thereof.

gecond: distilla- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal' section of my improvedreacting and distilling element or tube, and Y.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of reacting and vdistilling element or"tube.

In the drawing the same reference characters denote the same parts inall the views:

In Fig. 1 I have shown my'apparatus fully assembled 1I being a vaporchamber usually made 'in the form of a closed cylinder: this chamber isdivided into two compartmentsv A and B', separated lby a dia-v phragm2having a central opening 3 there- 1n which is surrounded with acylindrical portion 4 which in turn is* provided with an outwardlyprojecting flange 5. 4Into one ofthe compartments (A') my vaporizingtube, designated as a 'whole by the letter T extends; the othercompartment (B) isv subdividedby means of baffle plates 6 'and' 7 intoseveral chambers forming zi zag passages, baffles 6 extending upwardlyom the bottom and terminating a short distance from the top of thechamber and terminating a` short distance from the bottom. l 1 Anyvapors which enter chamber B will thus have their direction of travelabruptly changed whereby any undecomposed particle will -beseparatedYout andl finally settle, to the bottom of the chamber where openingsareprovided in plates 64 to permit the material thus collected to reach'the drain pipe 9 through which they are removed. y

Referring now more particularly 'to Fig. 2, I will proceed tol describemy reaction and distilling element or tube T. This tube comprises anelongated tubular member which I shall indicate as a whole by referencenumeral 10: This tube has dilerent parts ot its length of differentdiameters and'is preferably cast i-n the desired shape. Passing throughthe entire length of tube 1() is a rod 11 which we may term a valvestem: this stem is supported by member 12 which has screw threadedconnection with tube 10 at 13 and with rod 11 at 14. Member 12 hasattached thereto a screw cap -15 which coopcrates with it to form astued vapor tight joint. Carried on stem 1l and freely movable in tube10 is a helical worm 16 which forms a spiral passage of considerablelength the purpose and funcron of which will ap` baiile 7 extendingdownwardly from the top able means to ide that have pear as thedescription proceeds. N ear its inner end tube 10 is enlarged to form acham- 'ber 17. Within the chamber and secured to bar 11 is a catalyticor conversion promoting agent 18 of iron, nickel, alumina or othersuitable material, here shown in the form of helical bar but it may bemade in any desired form. Beyond chamber. 17, tube 10 is againcontracted to the size of the main portion thereof as indicated-bynumeral 19. Within the reduced portion 19 is another spiral passageformed by two helical members 20 and 20. Secured to the reduced portionof tube 10 is a conical or top shaped chamber 21 having a restrictedopening 22 in the outer end thereof. Stem 11 extends through opening 22and carries at its outer end a dish `shaped member 23, the hollowportion of which faces the opening 22 and is adjustable towards and awaytherefrom, by means of the stem 11. pening into tube l0 near the outerend thereof are three pipes 24, 25, 26. Pipe 24 supplies the oil to betreated, which oil has been heated by. suitthe desired temperature,-this pipe has its end bent at right angles and lies parallel to the axisof tube 10; this end is also provided with a series of openings 29 thruwhich the oil enters tube 10. The end 28 of tube 24 preferably has thetop thereof plugged so that the oil can leave only thru holes 29. Nearthe outer end of tube 10 pipe 25 is connected; this pipe conveys vaporssuch as air, natural gas or carbon dioxbeen heated to the requiredtemperature and which are supplied under pressure. Pipe 26 is connectedto a steam or vapor (or both) supply and controls the admission of steamto the tube T. rlhe heated oil and vapor as well as the steam isadmitted to the tube T under pressure and flow towards the inner end ofsaid tube, the quantity of each being controlled by valves 30 and 31. Inflowing inwardly thru tube 10 the intermingled oil, vapor steam or both,pass thru the'spiral passage of the helical Worm where they becomeintimately associated in a minutely divided form, resulting in an almostinstantaneous heat absorption by the liquid under treatment, adecomposition of the oil and the production of the desired vapors. Theintermingled. heat carrying vapors and the vapors from the oil continueto flow inwardly and enter chamber 17 which contains a catalytic orconversion promoting agent 18; the nature of this agent depends upon thenature of the liquid under treatment but is usually nickel, copper,iron, alumina or any other material that may be found to be the mostsuitable for the material under treatment.

From chamber 17 the vapors pass thru the spiral passage between thehelical members 20 and 20 into the enlarged conical chamber 21 andfinally leave the tube l thru terasse opening 22 and impinge on thecurved surface of the reaction cup member 23 which retlects the streamof vapor and directs it outwardly towards the inner sides of vaporchamber las shown in Fig. 1.

The fall of pressure-along tube T can be controlled by means of the handwheel 3:2

which rotates stein 11 and causes the reac? tion cup 23 to approach orrecede from the opening 22. 1It is evident that if cup 23 is brought upof vapors and oils will be restricted and the fall of pressure along thetube decreased, whereas if cup 23 is moved away from opening 22 the asesand oils have a freer exit from the tu e and consequently the fall ofpressure will be greater. The pressure within the tube can therefore bevaried within the limits of the pressure at which the heated vapor andoils enter, and the pressure within the vapor chamber 1.A

-As the temperature is controlled by controlling the heat of the vapor,oil and steam admitted, we have means of accomplishing the distillationat any desired pressure or temperature. Pipes 24, 25, and 26 are eachprovided with a check valve 27 to prevent the vapors from flowing in theoppositev direction. y

When the vapors and oils leave the tube T thru opening 22 they impingeon the curved surface of reactioncup 23 and are directed outwardly andrearwardly. In this Way any undecomposed particles are given a highvelocity toward the walls of the vapor chamber and are thus separatedfrom the vapors which then How toward diaphragm 2 and enter compartmentB through opening 3. 'lille cylindrical member 4 and outwardly extendingcollar 5 serve to prevent any undecomposed particles that may impinge onthe diaphragm 2 from passing into compartment B. All the liquids ,andsolids that are separated from the vapors in compartment A settle to thebottom where theyn are finally removed thru pipe 33. When the vapors andgases enter compartment B they are detected by balie plates G and 7which has the further effect of removing liquid and solid particleswhich settle to the bottom of the compartment and are finally. drawnoffthrough pipe 9, holes 8 being provided in bailleA 6 to permit theliquids to reach the entrance of pipe 9. The gases and vapors enteropenings 34 in dry pipe 35 and are removed through pipe 36. The lowerside of pipe 35 has an opening 37 for the escape of any liquids that maybe carried into the pipe by the vapors or whichmay condense there.

A. heat coil 38 is provided in one end of compartment B for the purposeof utilizing some of the heat present. The coil can be connected to pipe24 or utilized in any manner desire close to the opening 22 the iiow'The helical member 16 can be made of various lengths to suit therequirements of the particular material operated upon.

Pipe 36 is shown connected to a condenser 42 and to which is connected avertical pipe 43 for the purpose of providing an outlet for anyuncondensable vapors that may pass throughv the condenser. The condensedliquid is discharged into' any suitable container.

. In cases where the catalytic agent is not desired tube T may bemodified by omitting chamber 17 and the helical passage between members2O and 20 and made as shown in Fig. 3. The vapor chamber is providedwith a saftey valve 39, a thermostat 40 and' a pressure gauge 41, theformer to prevent dangerous pressures within the container and the othertwo for the purpose of enabling the operator to control the distillingand decomposing of the oils within the distilling element or tube T.

The operation of my device is as follows: Oil heated to any desireddegree and at any desired pressure, is introduced into the vaporizingtube through the pipe 24. Simultaneously therewith, heated vvapors. suchas products of combustion, saturated or superheated steam or both vaporand steam, are

admitted under pressure through pipes 25V and 26.l These vapors flowingalong the tube towards the inner end thereof, carry with them the oil,this stream' of oil and vapor then enters, the helical chamber formed bymember 16 wherein the articles, due to their constant change ofdirection and consequent bombardment of the surfaces, become intimatelyintermingled. Due to this intimate association of the oil particleswiththe heated vapors an almost instantaneous transfer of heat takes place,resulting in the decomposition necessary in order to obtain the productdesired. The mixture of oil and vapors then continue inwardly until theyreach the chamber 17,

v where they are subjected to the action of the catalytic agent 18 wherefurther conversion of the undecomposed particles of the heavierhydrocarbons take place. The stream of combined oil and vapor then passthrough the helical passages between members 20 and 20 where thedirection of iiow is changed andthe velocity slightly retarded, as they'enter the chamber 21. The combined oils and vapor then pass out of thetube opening 22 and impinge on the surface of the reaction cap 23whereby the direction of flow is changed as the vapors enter the vaporchamber, in this manner all `undecomposed oils and solid or liquidparticles are separated from the vapor and. accumulate 'in the bottom ofchamber A. Thevapors then .pass through the opening in diaphragm 2 andenter chamber B where the direction of flow is changed by means ofbaffle plates 6 and 7, this results in a further separation ofundecomposed particles which settle to the bottom of chamber B and areremoved through pipe 9. The vapors are removed through pipe 36 andpassed thru a condenser 39 from 70 which they are removed in liquidform, or the vapors may be used to heat o il in another reacting anddistilling tube in the manner set forth above, or the hot vapors may beused to boil and decompose oil in a vapor still commonly known as asteam still.

This method of distilling liquids has the advantage of preventing orlimiting the vformation of oil mists in the gases of distillation, alsothe formation of non-condens'able oil mists, by causingthe reactionsand'v distillation to take place under a controlled pressure and withina limited space, and causingthe gases to constantly'smove over loilwetted surfaces where 'the oil mists, if

produced, Will be absorbed. This is 'made possibleby the fact that onlyapportion of the oil passing through the distilling element is convertedinto a gas, the remainder covering and keeping wet the exposedsurfacesof the helical worm 16.

I desire to point out that while the condensation of the vapors may becarried out under pressure that this pressure is always less than thatunder which the distillation and decomposition took place.

In' Fig. 2 I have shown an additional pipe I bers A and B are primarilyintended to,

function as separators whereby the liberatedvapors and gases areseparated from vthe undecomposed particles and liquids. It may bepossible that some minor reactions do take place in chambers A and B,but Iam not depending upon these for the success of my process. v

When air is introduced into the reaction anddistillation element T insufficient quantity, and employed in the absence of steam, and thetemperature maintained above that required for ignition, it is evident.that a Vcertain amount of the oil will combine with the oxygenfof theair and form fatty acids or other products which will result from thisoxidization, the degree of oxidization beino plie As examples of thetemperatures and the governed by the amount of air suppressuresl Ithatare preferably employed for obtaining the desired results, the followingare submitted: p

For the production of oils of the gasoline series from crude petroleum,a temperature of between 250 and 450 degrees 1F. is em ployed, andapressure of about 100 pounds per square inch.

For the production of oils of the illuminating series, such as kerosene,a temperature of from 400 to 600 degrees F.' and `a pressure of about100 pounds per square inch is employed. .Y

When it is desired to produce oils of the low specific gravity gasolinelseries, from oils that have had the primary benzines and gasolinesremoved, such pressures and temperatures will have to be used that thereaction known as cracking will take place, and this requires atemperature of between 750 and 1000 degrees F. and av pressure whichdoes not exceed 300 pounds per square inch. The pressureand thetemperature requiredI varies with the chemical reacting characteristicsof the oil "under treatment and must be adjusted to meet therequirements of the specific oil that is treated, and it is thereforepossible to give only the limits of temperature and the approximatepressure to be employed, The temperatures and the pressures given in theabove examples are as near as applicant can determine them, and arebelieved to be correctly defined, but it is possible that cases maybe'found where the optimum temperatures, and pressures would vary by 2Oper cent 4from those given,

as the widely varying responsiveness of hydrocarbon oils to pressure andtemperature treatment is Well known to the oil refining industry.

rlhis application is a division of my ap- 'plication Serial Number488,760 filed Aug.

Having now described my process and apparatus what li claim as myinvention or discovery is:

1. A method of converting oils of high specific gravity into oils oflower specific gravity which comprises passing the oil into a distillingchamber, mixing the same With vapors heated to the temperature requiredto maintain conversion passing the mixed oil and vapor through a helicalpassage at the pressure necessary to maintain conversionv whereby theybecome thoroughly intermingled,passing the intermingled oil and vaporinto a' chamber containing a catalytic agent passin said intermingledoil and vapor throng another helical passage, expanding the mixture intoa vapor chamber, separating the undecomposed particles from thevapora'nd condensing the vapor under any desired ressure less than thatunder which the distillation takes place.

2. A method of converting oils of high specic gravity into oils of lowerspecic remesa gravity which comprises passing the oil into a distillingchamber, mixing the same with vapors heated to the temperature requiredto maintain conversion passing the mixed oil and vapor through a helicaipassage at the pressure necessary to mainta-in conversion whereby theybecome thoroughly intermingled, passing the intermingled oiland vaporinto a chamber containing a catalytic agent passing said intermingledoil and vapor through another helical passage into an enlarged chamber,expanding the mixture into a vapor chamber separating the undc composedparticles from the vapor and condensing the vapor under any desiredpressure less than that under which the distillation takes place.

3. A method of converting oil of high specific gravity into oils oflower specific gravity which comprises passing the oil into a distilling-chamber, mixing the same with vapors heated to the temperature requiredto maintain conversion, passing the mixed oil and vapor through 'ahelical passage at any pressure necessary to maintain conversion wherebythey become thoroughly intermingled, passing the intermingled oil andvapor into a chamber containing a catalytic agent, and passingsaidintermingled oil and vapor through another helical passage, into anenlarged chamber, thence through a restricted opening and against thesurface of a reflecting member, expanding the mixture into a vaporchamber, separatmg the undecomposed particles from the vapor andcondensing the vapor under any desired pressure less than that underwhich the distillation takes place.

4. A method of converting oils of hi h specific gravity into oils oflower speci c gravity which comprises passing the oil into a ,distillingchamber, mixing the same with vapors heated to the temperature requiredto maintain conversion, passing the mixed oil and vapor through ahelical passage at any pressure necessary to maintain conversion wherebythey become thoroughly intermingled, passing the intermingled oil andvapor into a chamber containing a catalytic agent, and passing saidintermingled oil andv vapor through another helical passage, into anenlarged chamber, thence through a restricted opening and against thesurface of a reflecting member, whereby the direction 4of the stream ischanged, expanding the vapors and oil into a vapor chamber, separatingthe undecomposed particles from the vapor and condensing the vapor underany desired pressure less than that under which the distillation tookplace. Y

5. A' method of converting oils of high -specific gravity into oils oflower s ecific gravity which comprises passing the oil into a distillingchamber, mixing the same with vapors heated to the temperature requiredto maintain conversion, passingthe mixed oil and vapor through a helicalpassage at any pressure necessary to maintain conversion whereby theybecome thoroughly intermingled, passing the intermingled oil and vaporinto a chamber containing a catalytic agent, introducing more heatedvapors,

and passing said intermingled oil and vapor through another helicalpassage, expanding the mixture into a vapor chamber, separating' theundecomposed particles from the vapor and condensingr the vapor underany desired pressure less than that the distillation takes place.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WILLIAM J. REILLY.

vunder which

